Latch



2 Sheets- 2. J LAU.

LATCH,

(No Model.)

No. 451,638. Patented May 5, 1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT @EErcE.

FREDRIOK J. LAU, OF NEVARK, NEIV JERSEY.

LATCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 451,638, dated May 5,1891.

Application filed January 31, 1891. Serial No. 379,768- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FREDRICK J. LAU, a citizen of the United States,residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Latches; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which 1tappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawlngs, and to letters of reference marked Ehereon, whichform a part of this specificaion.

This invention relates more especially to refrigerator-latches, and hasfor its object to secure certainty and ease of action and simplicity andeconomy in the cost of construction.

The invention consists in the improved latch and in the arrangement andcombination of the several parts thereof, as herein shown and described,and finally pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters ofreference indicate corresponding parts in each of the several figureswhere they occur, Figure 1 represents in front elevation a broken-offportion of a refrigerator-door and door-jamb and my improved latch, &c.,attached thereto. Fig. 2 represents a back plan view of the latch; andFig. 3, a similar view, the back plate being re moved and exposing theworking parts of the latch in the case. Fig. 4 is a longitudinaltransverse section taken through line :0 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 5 is avertical transverse section through line y of Fig. 2. Figs. 6 and 7represent plan and end views, respectively, of the catch-plate; andFigs. 8 and 9 represent side and rear elevations, respectively, of thecatch-bolt and its operating-arm, &c.

In said drawings, A and B, Figs. 1 and 4, indicate, respectively, abroken-off portion of a refrigerator-door and the door-jamb.

0 indicates the latch-case, which has a front projection C.

d indicates a stationary knob, and e a bolt, which passes through theknob, case, and door, and is secured by a nut e inside of the door,thereby aiding to hold the parts together and to said door. The knob,however, may be through the back plate 0 of the case to engage with thecatch-plate h when in a locked position, as indicated in Fig. 4. Saidhookcatch is slightly tapering toward the end to facilitate its freeentrance into the opening in the catch-plate h and to secure automaticaction, as will be understood. Said catchbolt at its opposite end isprovided with an operating-arm f, which projects through the outside ofthe case to within convenient reach from the knob, so that it may begrasped in connection therewith and the latch-bolt be 0perated by aslight pressure thereon to release the catch, as will be understood, thecatch being thrown into locking engagement automatically by means of theincline on the hookcatch and a spring i, one end of which is seatedagainst ahub j, projecting from the case-plate and the other against across-bar 7a in the skeleton portion or shank of the catch-bolt. Thesaid operating-arm moves through a slot Z in the case-plate, asindicated in Figs 3 and 4.

The case is provided with hubs an and 4%, upon which the back platerests. The knobshank or bolt 0 also passes through said hub m, and ascrew 0 engages in a threaded socket in the hub n to hold said backplate in position, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 8.

The slotted catch-plate 72/, Figs. 1, 4., 6, and 7, is adapted to besecured upon the outside and inner edge of the 'door-jamb, suitablescrew-holes 5 being provided therefor.

It will be noticed that the portion 0 of the case projects beyond thefront edge of the door and overlaps the jamb, as indicated in Figs. 1and 4., and that the latch-bolt is entirely concealed from view when thedoor is closed.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States, is

l. The improved latch for refrigerators herein described and shown,consisting of the case 0 0, provided with the slot Z, hubs j, m, and n,a stationary non-rotating knob, a latchbolt provided with the hook-catchg, project- ICO ing through the back plate, the operatingconnected tosaid latch-bolt and projecting arin f, rigidly secured to saidlatch-bolt and outside of said case near said knob, said partsprojecting through the front of the case, and being arranged to operateas described, and 15 a crossbar 70, and a spring seated against for thepurposes set forth.

5 said hubj and cross-bar 7:, said parts being In testimony that I claimthe foregoing I arranged and operating as described, and for havehereunto set my hand this 21st day of the purpose set forth. January,1891.

2. In a latch, the combination, with the stationary non-rotating knob,of a latch-bolt pro- 10 vided with a baekwardly-projecting hook-FREDRICK J. LAU.

Witnesses;

catch adapted to engage a catch-plate beneath OLIVER DRAKE, thelock-ease, and an operating-arm rigidly OSCAR A. MICHEL.

